Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein and Rebbetzin Nechama Rothstein began their tenure at Vanderbilt Chabad 17 years ago. Just in their early 20s when they arrived, they have grown from what Nechama says was a “big sister, big brother” relationship with the students into what they now say is a living example of Jewish family life. “We provide a full vision of vibrant Jewish life,” says Nechama.
Through the years, the two have dreamed of having a space big enough to meet the needs of the Jewish student community, and a place where they could raise their family. That dream is now a reality. The Lubeck Center for Jewish Life opened its doors this fall. The building, just a couple of blocks from the main campus, is the realization of an $8.3 million capital campaign. It rises three stories tall and includes public spaces for the students to congregate for meals, prayer services, and social events. The top floor is reserved for private living space for the Rothstein family.
The building is named for Joe Lubeck whose son Tommy graduated Vanderbilt in 2018. “While he was there, he not only got a wonderful education, but he also met Rabbi Shlomo and Nechama and he shared with me how special he [Rabbi Shlomo] was, and how encouraging he was, and what a great teacher he was and what a great family they were,” says Lubeck, “I met them and I was likewise, duly impressed.”
Rabbi Shlomo calls the new facility a game changer in its ability to more seamlessly meet the students’ needs. “We recently had a student who died by suicide, and I was able to respond quickly and help comfort our students,” he says. In addition, Nechama says the building’s proximity to campus makes itvery accessible for college students who can drop by during their day to hang out, to study, or have a Shabbat meal.
One of those students is Sarina Samuels, a senior and president of the Chabad board. She says it has been exciting to see the building become a reality since its groundbreaking during her freshman year. “To really see the physical embodiment of the growth of Chabad, and also the fact that I was going to Shabbat dinners with 20 people and now I’m going to Shabbat dinners with a couple hundred on average.”
Samuels says another important feature of the new building is that it allows for spontaneity in programming. “The space is solely ours. So from an administrative perspective it’s super helpful. If we want to have an event, we don’t have to worry about booking anything or talking to the university.”
Flexibility and responsiveness are all part of Chabad’s overall approach, according to Nechama. “My role is to connect people to Judaism, to each other, to leadership roles. And we help affirm Jewish pride at a time when it is needed,” she says. She adds that the new space comes at a moment when students are looking for a safe haven. “Having the space is comforting already.”
Rabbi Shlomo says that comfort extends to the university administration. “People don’t realize how much adults and leaders on campus make a difference,” he says, “The administration is very supportive, and Vanderbilt is a warm, comfortable place to be Jewish.” He adds that Chabad is committed to being a safe place where students can express themselves and learn how to get along with differing views, and says he regularly fields calls from families looking to Vanderbilt for their students.
Lubeck agrees and says it is Vanderbilt’s campus culture that inspired him to participate in Chabad. “With Vanderbilt’s strong Jewish population and with an amazing rabbi and rebbetzin, and with what I felt was very important balance and appropriate support for the Jewish community from the Vanderbilt administration that this was a place we wanted to invest.”
Lubeck says despite the obstacles and delays during construction he is pleased with the outcome. “We’re thrilled to see how not just the Chabad community but the Jewish community at Vanderbilt has responded to the new building and how much use it’s getting and how many more people are attending all the events.” Samuels agrees. “It’s been beautiful to see when I first started being on the board, we talked about doing Shabbat 500. We were very concerned that we wouldn’t hit 500 people, it would be embarrassing, should we even try. And we had over 500 people for Rosh Hashanah.
To date, the campaign is looking to finish the capital campaign with a final push for $1.8 million to reach its goal. “It is hard work, although we make it look easy,” says Shlomo. Still despite all the travel, the construction mess, and the fundraising, Nechama says, “Anyone can make a building, but the overall Chabad approach is where the magic is.”
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